SQL Server Security (Paperback)

~ David Litchfield (Author) "In the early days of personal computing, security was often an afterthought, if it was never thought of at all..." (more)
Key Phrases: obfuscated password, multiserver administration, fixed server roles, Enterprise Manager, Active Directory, Server Agent (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Addresses SQL Server vulnerabilities and provides security solutions. Covers installation, administration, and programming--plus security issues such as authentication, encryption, intrusion detection, and more. Written for IT professionals administering or programming any SQL Server-based application--includes coverage of SQL Server 7, SQL Server 2000, and SQL Server (Yukon).

From the Back Cover

Protect your data from the most sophisticated hackers with hands-on examples and sure-fire measures in SQL Server Security. Understand the ways in which SQL Server can be hacked, and what you can do to prevent exploitation of your data. Install, administer, and program secure Microsoft SQL Server environments and applications. Assess your risk and threat levels when designing a secure system. Make sure your defensive strategies match the threat when considering encryption options. Extend your defenses to include security auditing and intrusion detection. Implementing the techniques in this indispensable security resource is as close as you can get to guaranteed prevention against hackers without turning off the power switch.

Covers the latest techniques:

• Install and configure your SQL Server environment for maximum security
• Build and maintain a robust and protected database server
• Protect valuable customer information, human resources data, and more
• Defend against application software vulnerabilities and configuration issues
• Ensure that access to data is only granted when appropriate
• Encrypt data into an unreadable form to preserve confidentiality
• Understand the mistakes that contributed to the spread of the SQL Slammer worm
• Rid your applications of SQL injection bugs
• Permit client applications to access the server securely
• Build and utilize an effective auditing and intrusion detection plan

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 1 edition (August 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072225157
• ISBN-13: 978-0072225150
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #837,345 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chip Andrews and crew deliver a title worthy of its lineage, October 12, 2003

By	Richard Bejtlich "TaoSecurity.com" (Metro Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"SQL Server Security" (SSS) is a great security book, free of the bloat the affects both operating systems and many technical volumes. Weighing in at 322 pages, it's packed with the detail needed to securely deploy Microsoft SQL servers. Although many people contributed to the text, it doesn't suffer from internal redundancy. I highly recommend anyone operating SQL servers devour this book.

In the "Acknowledgements," lead author Chip Andrews writes "I wanted this book to give security and database professionals the same readability, reference ability, and red-eyed wonder that 'Hacking Exposed' gave me a few years back." My favorite aspect of the HE line was the material's ability to explain attack and defense concepts while illuminating the internal operation of victimized systems. SSS follows this lead by devoting entire chapters to SQL Server components, like Network-Libraries (ch. 4) and Authentication and Authorization (ch. 5). My favorite sections appear in chapter 7, where the authors describe novel ways to leverage SQL Server's "C-2 auditing" features for purposes of intrusion detection.

SSS dispenses an immense amount of useful advice, whether it's a whole chapter on secure installation (ch. 3), best practices found in most chapters, or the appendices on stored procedures and integration with other Microsoft technologies. The only downside I found appears in chapter 2, where SQL samurai David Litchfield uses language outside the realm of most readers' understanding. For example, "the import address entry for GetProcAddress() in sqlsort.dll shifts by 12. With no SQL Server service pack, the address of the entry is at 0x42AE1010, and on SP1 and SP2, it is at 0x42AE101C" (p. 29). The uninitiated should skim this chapter and trust the authors when they claim SQL Server can be attacked by multiple means.

SSS is a must-buy if you operate SQL Server. It's the manual Microsoft forgot to ship.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent coverage, December 28, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

Having read about half of this book, I can say that each chapter has not disappointed me. As a mid-level DBA, this book has helped bring things together in my mind that seemed like a loose collection before. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to beef up their knowledge of security with SQL Server. The authors have done an excellent job. It's easy to read and chapters are reasonably short and concise with just the right amount of illustrations.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clearly addresses SQL Server vulnerabilities, January 12, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

SQL Server Security by David Lichtfield clearly addresses SQL Server vulnerabilities and provides security solutions, as well as covering installation, administration, and programming, plus security issues such as authentication, encryption, intrusion detection, and more. Written for IT professionals administering or programming any SQL Server-based application, SQL Server Security includes coverage of SQL Server 7, SQL Server 2000, and SQL Server (Yukon).